第20部分(第2/8 頁)

mmer　one　got　on　better：　sunshine　and　long　days　make　such　a　difference；　and　then；　just　at　the　mencement　of　this　autumn；　little　Adela　Varens　came　and　her　nurse：　a　child　makes　a　house　alive　all　at　once；　and　now　you　are　here　I　shall　be　quite　gay。”

My　heart　really　warmed　to　the　worthy　lady　as　I　heard　her　talk；　and　I　drew　my　chair　a　little　nearer　to　her；　and　expressed　my　sincere　wish　that　she　might　find　my　pany　as　agreeable　as　she　anticipated。

“But　I’ll　not　keep　you　sitting　up　late　to…night；”　said　she；　“it　is　on　the　stroke　of　twelve　now；　and　you　have　been　travelling　all　day：　you　must　feel　tired。　If　you　have　got　your　feet　well　warmed；　I’ll　show　you　your　bedroom。　I’ve　had　the　room　next　to　mine　prepared　for　you；　it　is　only　a　small　apartment；　but　I　thought　you　would　like　it　better　than　one　of　the　large　front　chambers：　to　be　sure　they　have　finer　furniture；　but　they　are　so　dreary　and　solitary；　I　never　sleep　in　them　myself。”

I　thanked　her　for　her　considerate　choice；　and　as　I　really　felt　fatigued　with　my　long　journey；　expressed　my　readiness　to　retire。　She　took　her　candle；　and　I　followed　her　from　the　room。　First　she　went　to　see　if　the　hall…door　was　fastened；　having　taken　the　key　from　the　lock；　she　led　the　way　upstairs。　The　steps　and　banisters　were　of　oak；　the　staircase　window　was　high　and　latticed；　both　it　and　the　long　gallery　into　which　the　bedroom　doors　opened　looked　as　if　they　belonged　to　a　church　rather　than　a　house。　A　very　chill　and　vault…　like　air　pervaded　the　sta